History of MapusaMapusa is believed to be a derivation of the Konkani word 'Map' meaning 'Measure' and 'Sa' meaning 'Fill Up' and pronounced y the locals as 'Mapsa'. Mapusa is a small town with several buildings in ramshackle. Travel to Mapusa, which gained popularity due to its famous Friday Market. The market was first described by a Dutch Chronicler as 'Bazaar Grande' in 1580 AD.

About the CityMapusa is perched over the hillock of Altinho in the Bardez Taluka on the National Highway 17. Mapusa is only 13 km from Panaji and is convenient to travel. Mapusa developed as a flourishing market center because of the Festival of the God Kanakeshwar Baba at the Bodgeshwar Temple.

Tourist Attractions of Mapusa The most famous attraction to explore while on travel to Mapusa is the flourishing Friday Market. The market gradually took an elaborate form from the local fair held at the Bodgeshwar Temple in the honor of the God Kanakeshwar Baba. The market is held for a period of one week during the festival and is thronged by both the locals and the tourists. Travel to Mapusa to purchase dry fruits, chunky jewelry, country made liquor, eatables, Goan feni, ethnic handicrafts, plants, seeds and saplings and traditional Goan clothing from the Friday Market. The other places to visit on travel to Mapusa are Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Bodgeshwar Temple, Chapora Fort, Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Kansarpal-Kalbadevi Temple, Shri Kalka Mandir, Sri Morji Temple, St Jerome's Church, Terekhol Fort, Temple of Hanuman and Vagator Fort.

Travel to Mapusa

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Mapusa is at Madgaon near Panaji

By Air: The Dabolim Airport in Panaji is the nearest airport to Mapusa.

Fair and Festivals of Goa

According to Hindu :- January/February (Magh) Mahashivratri A celebration honour of Lord Shiva held at all the principal Shiva temple, such as the Rudershwar, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Sri Madadev - Bhumika and other temples. Rantha Saptami festival takes place in February at the Mallikarujuna Temple. Maruti-Zatra at Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is presiding deity of Panaji, Goa's capital city. Mahalasa Jatra or Vijayarathotsav (Chariot Festival) is celebrated at Mahalasa Temple of Mohini in Ponda.

February / March (Phalgun) Shigmotsavor or Shigmo: All over Goa, Special celebrations at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa. A Spring festival celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun in March.It is a grand five day festival of colour, celebrated distinctively in the villages, corresponding with Holi or Spring Festivals. Shigmo is universally celebrated in Goa, but specially in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa.

Ghodemodni or Parade of the horse riders, is part of Shigmo and is found in Fatorpa and Bicholim. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums and Whistles accompany the martial dance, which Parades down the main street, imitating horses and their riders.

Rombat takes place on the second and third day of Shigmo. It is a Procession of men in traditional dress carrying banners and umbrellas dancing to the music of drums. Young boys wave green twigs, signifying the arrival of spring.

Drama Festivals form an important part of Shigmo with most villages staging plays during the week.

Holi is celebrated as Gulal or Rangapanchami at Sri Damodar Temple in Zambaulin.

The three day festival of Gade at Mahadev Bhumika Temple attracts huge crowds.

Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a major scale every alternate year at Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem. Visitors from Maharashtra and Karnataka attend the seven day festivities which are socio religious occasions.

March-Apirl (Chaitra) Ram Navami or the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated at Ramnath temple. Chaitra Purnima is celebrated at Sri Mahalakshhmi Temple at Panaji, and during the nine days preceding the full moon, at Sri Vithal Temple in Sanquelim. It is also Nagueshi, Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem in Canacona.

Apirl-May (Baisakh) This is home coming season for many Goan settled away from Goa. It is also the fruit season and Feni making season. A distinctive Goan aperitif, Feni comes from cashew apples. In addition it is toddy- tapping season.

May-June (Jaith) Mirg is on 6th June. It is the start of the Monsoon season. The Christian Mirg is one day earlier. If the rains fail, prayers are offered to the Catholic saints born this month-- St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist and St. Peter and St. Paul. In Goa there is happy mingling of festivals and feast days for the common good of all.

June-July (Asadh) Rainy season with no major festival.

July- August (Shravana) Gokul Ashtami or Janamashtami is the Birthday of Lord Krishna. This marks the beginning of Goa's harvest festival. At Narve village in Bicholim, people gather for pilgrimage from far and wide.

August- September (Bhadra-Pada) Ganesh Chaturthi birthday of Lord Ganesh, the most important deity in the Konkan, and is celebrated all over Goa. Thousand return to Goa for this festival, which is associated with good Harvest.

Novidade In each village, the first offering is is made to the church and the paddy specially blessed. No farmer, will harvest his rice crop before it is offered in a ceremony called 'Novidade' in which the parish priest himself harvests sheaf of rice and returns with it to the Church, Local people accompany him with music, fire works and Jubilation . It is a true feast day for all. Women folk of Goa's earliest tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup in half second half of the month.

August- September (Ashwin) Navarati or the nine nights festivals associated with Lord Rama's Defeat of Ravana, demon King of Lanka culminates in the grand festival of Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated by devotees of the Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri Bhagavati Temple is Pernem has a fortnight's festivities on the occasion. Special celebrations for Navaratar Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi, Mahalakshmi and Ramnath Temples at Ponda and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal. The Dhangar Dance is dance of worship performed during this festival. The Kiran Mahotsasv or religious music festival takes place at Quepem in September and is an all night celebration.

October- November (Kartika) Deepawali is the great festivals of lights . It is universally celebrated in Goa, in homes, on the streets, in shops and of course, in religious places.

November- December (Aghrana) Kejagiri Purnima could fall early in lights. It is the full moon following Dusshera and at Mardol in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day.

November- December (Paush) Malni Purnima is the festivals at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel. The Zatra of Shri Shantadugra is held at Dhargal in Pernem. The deity is taken out of the temple in a colourful procession for the day. The annual Zatra of Shri Shantadurga at Kunkoliemkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem also falls in this month. Thousands flock to attend the festival from afar. Zatra in all Temples, of special importance being at Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Madki, Kundai, Shiroda, Khandepar, Borim, Kapileshwari, Mulgaon, Fatorpa, Amona, Mashel, Mala-Panaji, Mapusam, Velinga, Karmali, and Calangute.

The Datta Jayanti is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at Dattawadi, Sanquelim.

According to Christian January 6 ----- Feast of the Three Kings at Reis Magos, Cuelim (Canasaulim) and Chandor.

February 2 ---- Feast of our Lady of Chandelaria at Pomburpa. 5th Monday in Lent ---- Procession of all Saint of the Franciscan Third Order (only other besides Rome) at Goa Velha.

1st Sunday after Easter --- Feast of Jesus Nazareth at Siridoa.

16 days after Easter -- Feast of Our Lady of Miracles at Mapusa.

24th June --- Feast of Sao Joao (St. John Baplist).

24th August-- Festivals of Novidades -- Offering of first sheaves of rice crop to the head of State.

1st Fortnight of October ---- Fama De Menino Jesus at Colva.

3rd Wednesday of November --- Feast of Our Lady of Rosary at Navelim.

3rd December --- Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron Saint Goans, at old Goa. This occasion draws thousands of faithful to Goa to participate in the religious event.

8th December --- Feast of our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji and Margoa.

25th December --- Christmas, all over Goa with the customary Midnight Mass on gatherings and special Christmas Eve and with prayers gathering and special Christmas festivals. A Goan will leave his front door open during the festival as a gestures of generosity toward all who may visit his home.

According to Muslim

17th Zilhaj (February) ---- Urus of Shah Abdullah at Ponda.

The Beaches: Frolicking families, eager hands making sand castles, colorful crowds surging towards the sea, hippies busy remembering the good old times and the young and old alike lazing on the golden sands are some of the images that characterize this Queen of Beaches. This picture of a perfect tourist haven is completed with shacks and stalls under the shade of palm trees selling everything from fried prawns and beer to trinkets made of seashells

The St. Alex Church: The Church of St Alex greets with its two towers and a magnificent dome gracing the façade.

Kerkar Art Complex The Kerkar Art Complex, is the one and only of its kind on this beach. It is a popular center for exhibitions of arts and crafts of local artistes.